Woman Facing More Charges as Second Child Tests Positive for Cocaine

By Danny ValentineTampa Bay Times

Published: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 8:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 8:41 a.m.

SPRING HILL | A 45-year-old Spring Hill woman faces another charge of child abuse after authorities learned that a second child in her care tested positive for cocaine, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office reported Friday.

The child is 11.

The discovery was made while authorities investigated Kimberly Losurdo on an incident involving a 9-year-old who swallowed a piece of crack cocaine and had to be hospitalized, authorities said.

Losurdo admitted to investigators that she smoked crack in the residence where the 9-year-old child, the 11-year-old and a 16-year-old were staying.

Losurdo said she called paramedics early Thursday when the 9-year-old started to convulse and drift in and out of consciousness. Staffers at a local hospital notified authorities after a blood test revealed cocaine in the child's system.

Investigators interviewed the 9-year-old child and learned that the youngster witnessed Losurdo smoking, snorting and ingesting drugs. The child found a small, rock-like substance in the bathroom, swallowed it and soon became ill, authorities said. Investigators later found a crack pipe in the house.

Investigators say Losurdo told them the 9-year-old must have found a piece of the drug and ingested it.

As part of the investigation into that incident, authorities tested the other two children for drugs.

After testing positive for cocaine, the 11-year-old was taken to a local hospital for further testing and evaluation.

"Fortunately, this child was not exhibiting the same 'extreme' signs and symptoms as the other child," according to a Sheriff's Office news release.

Investigators interviewed the child again and learned that the youngster had seen Losurdo "smoking something in short quick sessions," according to the Sheriff's Office. The child later ate "a pill/candy-looking substance" that was found on a dresser.

The child was not admitted to the hospital. The Florida Department of Children and Families removed all three children from the residence.

The 9-year-old who ingested the crack cocaine is expected to fully recover.

Losurdo remained in the Hernando County Detention Center on Friday in lieu of $10,000 bail.

<p>SPRING HILL | A 45-year-old Spring Hill woman faces another charge of child abuse after authorities learned that a second child in her care tested positive for cocaine, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office reported Friday.</p><p>The child is 11.</p><p>The discovery was made while authorities investigated Kimberly Losurdo on an incident involving a 9-year-old who swallowed a piece of crack cocaine and had to be hospitalized, authorities said.</p><p>Losurdo admitted to investigators that she smoked crack in the residence where the 9-year-old child, the 11-year-old and a 16-year-old were staying.</p><p>Losurdo said she called paramedics early Thursday when the 9-year-old started to convulse and drift in and out of consciousness. Staffers at a local hospital notified authorities after a blood test revealed cocaine in the child's system.</p><p>Investigators interviewed the 9-year-old child and learned that the youngster witnessed Losurdo smoking, snorting and ingesting drugs. The child found a small, rock-like substance in the bathroom, swallowed it and soon became ill, authorities said. Investigators later found a crack pipe in the house.</p><p>Investigators say Losurdo told them the 9-year-old must have found a piece of the drug and ingested it.</p><p>As part of the investigation into that incident, authorities tested the other two children for drugs.</p><p>After testing positive for cocaine, the 11-year-old was taken to a local hospital for further testing and evaluation.</p><p>"Fortunately, this child was not exhibiting the same 'extreme' signs and symptoms as the other child," according to a Sheriff's Office news release.</p><p>Investigators interviewed the child again and learned that the youngster had seen Losurdo "smoking something in short quick sessions," according to the Sheriff's Office. The child later ate "a pill/candy-looking substance" that was found on a dresser.</p><p>The child was not admitted to the hospital. The Florida Department of Children and Families removed all three children from the residence.</p><p>The 9-year-old who ingested the crack cocaine is expected to fully recover.</p><p>Losurdo remained in the Hernando County Detention Center on Friday in lieu of $10,000 bail.</p>